Decision : 34 COM 7A.13
Belize Barrier Reef System (Belize) (N 764)

3. Expresses its serious concern about oil concessions reportedly granted within the marine area of the property, notes that any decision to go forward with oil exploration would be incompatible with World Heritage status, and urges the State Party to enact legislation to prohibit oil exploration within the Belize Barrier Reef System on the basis of its status as a World Heritage property;

4. Notes the State Party's report that all new land transactions have been halted, and requests the State Party to further clarify the legal basis for the cessation of all new land transactions;

5. Urges the State Party to expedite the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009), and in particular to rapidly agree and finalize the legal framework for co-management;

6. Reiterates its request that the State Party finalize, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and develop a proposal for the Desired State of Conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

7. Also requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of all planned activities within and in the vicinity of the property which could impact its Outstanding Universal Value, including oil exploration and real estate developments in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;

8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2011, a report on the state of conservation of the property and on progress in the implementation of the corrective measures, in particular measures taken to permanently stop the sale and lease of lands for development within the property, the impact on its integrity from real estate development activities as well as other recommendations of the World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission noted above and the status of all oil concessions within the property, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

9. Decides to retain the Belize Barrier Reef System (Belize) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.